Refugees

Can you imagine what it would be like to have lived a life of a refugee almost all of your life in a developing country and then to find yourself resettled in one of the richest nations in the world called America? Most people I have met while living in India and in Nepal are fascinated with America and if they could get the opportunity to be here, they would come. But, many of them don't realize that once they get here, how different life is and how difficult it can be. P and I have had interactions with different folks in India and Nepal where they would ask about how they could get a visa to the U.S. We have also had people ask us questions about America, such as, "So, are most people farmers? Do they have their own land? Do you buy gas cylinders for your stove too? What do you mean there is constant hot running water?" And, the questions go on. Just by the questions that people ask, we realize that if they came to America, they would feel completely lost. But, when you are a refugee who have had no rights to any land, without a place to call "home" for over 16 years, I would imagine America would be even more fascinating and daunting at the same time.

Today, Grace Huang and I went to visit a Nepali family (refugees from Nepal/Bhutan) who have been resettled in Covina. I visited them twice before, but this time I wanted Grace to come with me because since she has been to India, I knew she would at least understand some of the disorientation that the refugees might feel. (She also was gracious to drive...) Many of us are immigrants, but we had the luxury of having family be our guide and help in our transition. But, refugees, they are for the most part on their own, it seems. I have never worked with refugees before so this is all new to me. But, so far, what it appears is that they receive the initial help of being settled into an apartment by a nonprofit and the initial paper work of getting their identification card, social security, etc, but after that, they are for the most part, on their own. These refugees, they have no one--no extended family members nearby. They only have each other. I haven't done a lot of research to find out, but Covina doesn't have pockets of Nepali population... they probably would have found them if there was one, one way or another... Of course, it has made me to wonder how they choose where to resettle folks...

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a few hours with them and asked what is it that they want to do or feel like they want help with. They quickly told me that they wanted to go to the library. They want to know where it is. We found the library, got library cards, showed them how to access the internet, check out books, CDs, and DVDs, and gave them a quick tour. We spent some time filling out a job application for Target on line. (Everything is done on line now, I noticed...even two years ago, there were still paper applications, but I haven't seen any since I've been back...) What would normally take 30 minutes maximum for us, it took them two hours as we went through each step one by one. One of the brothers (Arun) said to me as we were leaving, "Wow... we were only able to send one application." He was both happy that he was able to do that but also surprised at the process too. Arun's English is good and he has completed high school so if an opportunity arises, he can get at least a minimum wage job.... Then, we made a stop at Vons supermarket, showed them the kiosk where they can electronically fill out an application, and I introduced them to the mananger. I told them that when they inquire about a job position, always ask to speak to the manager because they are involved in the hiring process and to go and follow-up on your application a week or two after you submit it. I found out today that they followed-up on their own at Target regarding the positions they had applied for and learned that the positions have been filled.

Today, they needed to wire some money to Nepal, but didn't know where Western Union was and how to do it. I looked on line before I went to see them and noticed that it was only a few blocks from their house. So, we went, wired some money, and ran a few errands. While we were doing this, Geetha (one of the sisters) said to me, "On top of the stove and oven, there is this on and off switch." So, I asked her, "When you turn on the switch what does it do?" She replied, "It turns on the fan and the other turns on the light in the oven." I said, "Yes." She then proceeded to ask, "Do I need to turn it on and then turn it off when I use the stove?" What I realized was that she was wondering if the switch functioned like a on/off valve for gas. In India/Nepal, we have to purchase gas cylinders for our stove, and people turn off the valve after use so that there is no gas leakage. She was explaining to me how she was scared that perhaps maybe they are not using it correctly... We also learned that they have been purchasing bottled water because someone had told them to never drink tap water. They were told that they will get diabetes from drinking tap water. Grace was there to reassure them that her husband is a water engineer and he drinks from tap all the time. I can see how they are freaked out by it since so many illnesses in developing nations are waterborne diseases. As Grace and I were dropping them off at their place after the errands, Geetha said, "Didi (big sister), I am really happy that you prayed for my mother's arm. Eventhough my mother's arm has been hurting, no one here, not even the church folks have offered to pray for her." I realized then that their experience of the church is even quite different and how people deal with illness. In India/Nepal, when someone is ill, we pray. We do see doctors, get medicine, and get surgeries done, but we pray. I didn't realize no one had prayed for her achy arm.

My heart goes out to them. Many more will begin to resettle in America and I pray that the church would extend their resources, knowledge, time, and energy out of love for the foreigners whom God loves. I wonder at times if people are intimidated at the idea of helping refugees because it feels so foreign. I don't know what kind of resources are out there to help people feel more equipped perhaps to extend their helping hands, but I feel like if a couple of folks "adopt" one family and is willing to spend a couple of hours a week or every two weeks to make themselves available, a lot of good can be done. They do need "stuff" but, they have lived with much less and can manage without certain things. But more than stuff, they need friends and people who can patiently show them where things are, how to access information, and defend them when people try to take advantage of their ignorance so that they can become more independent. America likes to promote itself as a nation where anything is possible.... It is a land of opportunities, but no one has made it alone. Someone at some point provided something that one needed to begin moving forward. I am praying that there would be those kinds of people for them.

I have at times wondered since being back how might my language learning and my experience in India/Nepal might be used for good, if one day P and I ended up living in the States again. I feel as though God has shown me one of many unseen potential opportunities....

By the way, if any one is interested in finding out ways you can be of help to the two refugee families, please let me know by sending me an email. :)